Needham History: The More You See, the More You See

And of course the papier-mache rock.

A picture of a photo studio in our collections, labelled “Photo studio, probably Holmes Brothers.” The visible props will reappear (often) in the following narrative.

The More You See, the More You See

This all starts with a badly-preserved picture of a photo studio. The photo is faded, and it took a lot of photo-editing to make it presentable. The studio it shows is a little shabby. The props are pushed together haphazardly against the walls. The floor is bare except for a small area rug at the back. Canvas backdrops are draped above. There is a large window to the left, letting in the bright sunshine (and, ironically, overexposing that part of the picture). The catalogue description says, “Photo studio, possibly Holmes Brothers.”

Holmes is a name I recognize. Photos marked “Holmes Bothers” are featured throughout our collections, and are some of the best scenes of late-19th century Needham that we have. I have paid less attention to studio portraits, but this was a good opportunity. Those props in the studio would be my clues. Against the window, there is a section of rustic fence, standing on a pair of short boards to hold it upright. Next to the fence is a lump that proved to be a rock—specially fabricated to serve as a casual seat. A more elegant seat is the velvet-upholstered chair, decorated with fringe and tassels. There is a metal stand, used to brace the subject and keep them still during the long exposures. On the floor is a floral rug, and against the back wall are various drapes and a very narrow fireplace and mantel. To the right of the photo is a mysterious piece of furniture that appears to be a pulpit, but with the suggestion of moving parts—this is the camera.

Looking through our portrait photos, it was easy to pick out the Holmes’ work, both because they often had dark red mattes that said “Holmes” on them, and because when I looked more closely, I could see the familiar props. Needhamites came to the Holmes Brothers’ studio dressed in their finery, to stand (or sit on the Rock) for their formal portraits. Most of these portraits date to the latter 1880s. By that time, photography was easier and more common than it had been only a decade or so before. Even so, people did not get their pictures taken all that often, so when they visited the photographer they made sure of wearing their best.

It is therefore somewhat humorous (to me) that they are so often shown in a faux-rustic setting. Young Mr. Clarence Hathaway, for example, sits casually on the rock in a hay-strewn landscape while wearing a velvet-collared coat and holding a bowler hat, while his sister stands beside the fence. Clarence had several portraits taken that same day, including a couple of more formal head shots and a full-length standing pose; he is wearing the same suit (though not the velvet-collared coat) in all of them. Howard Upham (who would later be Fire Chief) is standing casually beside the fence as well, wearing—wait!—a velvet-collared coat and holding a bowler hat. Photographers kept props like the Fence and Rock to create scenery, but they often also kept a stock of clothing on hand to dress up or change the appearance of the sitter. I am guessing that neither young man was the actual owner of that natty coat. When Lyman Kingsbury was photographed, he apparently wore his own clothes.

Deacon and Mrs Asa Haskell; Haskell was a farmer. Mr and Mrs Lyman Kingsbury; Kingsbury sold meat and provisions. Clarence Hathaway poses with his sister; Hathaway was a music teacher.

In Needham, there were two designated lots of Ministerial Lands, totaling about 143 acres – 141 acres bounded by Central Avenue, Nehoiden Street, Rosemary Street, and Parish Road; and two acres on Central Avenue opposite Parish Road. These are the lands depicted in the map. These lands were designated and remained for ministerial use from the time of the town’s founding in 1711 through the ministry of William Ritchie, the third minister, in 1842. Though by Rev. Ritchie’s time, some of the land had been sold off for other town purposes.

For other sitters, a more formal (and somewhat more realistic) setting was desired. Clarence Hathaway had another picture taken, this time standing with his hand resting on the fringed velvet chair. Selectman Edgar Bowers, looking every inch the prosperous manufacturer with his luxuriant whiskers and gold watch chain, also rests his hand on the back of the fringed chair, while wearing (not again!) a velvet-collared coat and holding a bowler hat. Baby Calligan (name and gender unknown) is on a slightly different fringed chair, but is clutching the same brocade drapery that hangs behind Edgar Bowers. Baby C’s mother was also photographed that day; she was portrayed sitting on the Rock.

The pinnacle of formality in the Holmes studio was the Fireplace. This is the most Victorian and the least artificial of the photo layouts, even though it also uses painted scenery. It is a fitting backdrop for a serious man like Asa Haskell, a respected Deacon in the Baptist Church. Or to commemorate the High School graduation of Jesse Freeman. In both pictures, the fireplace is just at the edge, concealing its narrowness; the swagged window to the left is only partially shown as well. Both feature the flowered rug and the fringed chair, but Jesse’s picture is further embellished with a table with flowers and a paisley shawl.

The Holmes Brothers—Charles, Nahum, and Oscar—lived in Needham on High Rock Street with their father Patterson, who was a farmer. Their studio (the one in the picture, I assume) was in Charlestown, at 19 Main Street. Their documented business records date from 1883 to 1888, but dated photos cover a few years earlier. Even though their studio was not in Needham, the ad that they placed in the Needham Directory for 1885 states that “Residents of Needham and vicinity should bear in mind the fact that our Studio may be as easily reached by them as any in Boston. Charlestown horse cars pass the B&A [railroad] depot every seven minutes. We are located a few steps from City Sq., two doors from the Post Office.”

Despite their out-of-town premises, the Holmes Brothers also did photographic work in Needham. As I mentioned, we have numerous scenes of the downtown businesses that date from 1880 to 1887. In addition, they did portraits in outdoor settings, including yet another one of Baby Calligan with mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother outside of their house on Warren Street.

After about 1888, the Holmes Brothers disappear from the Directory list of photographers, and reappear a couple of years later as builders. The 1893 Needham Directory has an ad for “Charles and Nahum Holmes, Contractors and Builders, Needham, MA.” They still appear to be living on their father’s farm, and Oscar is no longer listed. They built a number of houses in Needham’s growing residential developments around Warren Street, Great Plain Avenue, etc. Their photographic skills still came in handy, because they photographed their newly-completed houses. On one occasion, they took several photos of a house under construction, which is very rare for this period.

The extent to which they were still working as photographers by the later 1890s is unclear. They were not maintaining the studio or taking portraits, but they were photographing the houses that they built. They also apparently entered into a partnership of some kind with George Abell, another local photographer. Abell worked from the late 1890s until around 1910. In our collections we have a beautiful album of photos that Abell used as a sales portfolio. Many of the photos in the album are marked “Negative by Holmes, Print by Abell.” Since the Holmes/Abell photos predate Abell’s business dates, I am assuming that Abell bought up the Holmes’ old catalogue of Needham images and sold prints to his customers.

The Holmes Brothers built this house for Augustus Zirngiebel at the corner of Dedham Avenue and School Street in 1890. Although they were no longer commercial photographers, they obligingly took pictures of the houses that they built.



Gloria Polizzotti Greis is the Executive Director of the Needham History Center & Museum. For more information, please see their website at www.needhamhistory.org.